How to Stop People from Stealing your Online Information

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By jpwriter
User-Submitted Article

Article Rating: (8 Ratings)

Online safety is a big concern. There is an ever increasing rise in identity theft and your computer is often a window. There are many things that you can do to keep yourself safe when you are online or using a computer. You can also keep your kids safe online, but it's all going to take awareness and vigilance.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

computer
account numbers
passwords
common sense
banking information
email addresses
software programs

Step 1

Make sure to disable and delete your cookies often. Many websites require you to enable cookies, but you can be selective. Although this doesn't directly protect your information, hide your IP address, or make you anonymous, but it does help.
Step 2

Do not use the auto fill in feature of Windows when you are online. Your information is stored on the computer. Although this is fine on a home computer no one else uses, when you have a guest use your computer you are storing their information as well.
Step 3

Use a program that makes your IP address anonymous or allows you to surf the web anonymously (see resource section below). Depending on your situation and if you have children this can be a very useful tool for online safety. There are many programs available.
Step 4

Use a monitoring service to make sure that your children are safe online. You can use programs that alerts you when your computer is used in ways that are predetermined to be problematic. Please see the resources section below to find out about monitoring internet use and email.
Step 5

Buy from trusted sites. When you are going to make a purchase online do research about the person or place you are buying from unless they are a big trusted name such as Overstock.com, Amazon.com, a major retailer, or a business you have done business with before.
Step 6

Before signing up for an account with someone or entering your information on a website pay attention to the website. If you are signing up for an account and being asked banking information or your social security number, but there is no need for the business to have this information, then consider passing.
Step 7

Always keep your emails addresses and passwords safe. Some people will keep this information on a file on their computer, but consider what would happen if your computer was stolen. A lot of information is compromised because of stolen computers. Write your account and password information somewhere else than just your computer. This is also something to consider when using the auto-fill feature because if your laptop is stolen it doesn't take much to hack the computer if all your passwords and account information is pre-loaded.
Step 8

Do not have websites store your banking and account information when you purchase online. Although this does save you a few extra minutes when you are re-ordering from a business, it can also prevent someone from accessing your information.
Step 9

Make sure to clear the cache, cookies, and history of a computer if you are using a computer in a public place, such as a library. Be careful where you access your online personal information.

Comments

Susang6 said

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on 2/3/2009 Wonderful tips on how to stay safe while online. thanks for sharing 5*

FrazzledNanny said

on 1/9/2009 Thanks for the helpful tips. Very useful.

RiteNow said

on 12/13/2008 I learned something. Thanks so much.

mosscampion said

on 12/8/2008 Very good information, thank you! We can't be too careful these days.

Gardengates said

on 12/6/2008 Excellent advice for online safety. I keep forgetting to delete. I'm gonna go eat up those cookies right now. (They're probably stale by now anyway.)